Method and apparatus for adding inserts to folded sheets



Aug. 30, 1966 w, SCHLUCKEBIER ET AL 3,269,720

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ADDING INSERTS TO FOLDED SHEETS Filed Nov. 20,1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 \IHLHELH SCHLULKEB/ER PAUL HEIMLICHER MMWWMZM Aug.30, 1966 w SCHLUCKEBlER ETAL 3,269,720

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ADDING INSERTS TO FOLDED SHEETS Filed NOV. 20,1964 D 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 H 4 mg 17 B 54 3) 77d agxi 54 2 Fig. 7

m 26 261; m VENTORS WILHELN SCHLUEKEB/ER PH L HEIMLICHER p7 WWW HAW/WW p3,269,720- lce Patented August 30, 1966 3,269,720 METHOD AND APPARATUSFOR ADDING INSERTS T FOLDED SHEETS Wilhelm Schlncltebier, Koblenz,Germany, and Paul Heimlicher, Bollingen, Switzerland, assignors toWinkler, Fallert & (30., Ltd., Bern, Switzerland Filed Nov. 20, 1964,Ser. No. 418,941 Claims priority, application Sweden, Nov. 20, 1963,12,828/ 63 Claims. (Cl. 27057) This invention relates in general to anapparatus and method for adding sheet materials or supplements to foldedsheet elements such as newspapers, and in particular to a new and usefulapparatus and method for separating a series of overlapped folded sheetelements such as newspapers and to move them through a feed path atwhich the folded sheet elements are opened for receiving inserts orsupplements which are fed from fixed stacks of such supplements, and forthereafter delivering the complete interleaved article to a deliverymechanism for arranging in stacks.

The inventive apparatus and method are particularly applicable for theinsertion of supplements into newspapers. Rotary presses which are usedfor printing daily newspapers are not particularly Well used when theyare modified for printing additional supplements which are usuallyincluded in such newspapers over the weekends. For this reason it hasbeen a practice to print the supplement parts which need not be up todate in a pre-run and to insert the supplements into the newspaper whichis printed on the date on which it is to be circulated. At the presenttime the insertion of the supplements must be done by hand because ofthe lack of a suitable machine for effecting the same. In the case ofadditions which include a circulation of several hundred thousands ofcopies, a considerable staff will be required to effect the insertionsand a considerable amount of plant space must be set apart for effectingsuch insertions, and this adds materially to the cost of production ofthe newspaper.

Some inserting machines have been built where both the copies to beinserted and the up-to-date .parts of the newspaper must be arranged orlayed up in stacks. However, because it is necessary to charge twostacks per machine, the cost of personnel, in particular for heavyproducts, is almost as great as for manual insertion. One reason is thatthe capacity of such inserting machines is only one half to one third tothat of a rotary press, and therefore the respective supervisingpersonnel must be present.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a machine foroperating on the newspapers which are being delivered off a rotary pressin the usual folded sheet form to effect separation of the sheets, theopening thereof, and the dropping of an insert therein. The machineadvantageously operates synchronously with the rotary press and theinserts are supplied for insertion between the sheets from one or morefixed stacks thereof. In accordance with the preferred apparatus andmethod, the folded sheets of newspaper are opened synchronously with theoperation of the rotary press on a partial work section having an areaof one paper length. They are opened for receiving the insert and theyare operated upon subsequently for closing the sheets on a similarpartial work section of more than one paper length.

In a preferred arrangement, the apparatus includes a pair of pull-out oracceleration rollers which are capable of pulling one sheet of a foldednewspaper out from a continuous overlapped series thereof and foradvancing the sheet into association with means for opening the sheet toa fully opened position and advancing the sheet, while open, to alocation at which it is below means for delivering a supplement betweenthe sheets. A feed-off mechanism comprising a pair of parallel screwconveyor elements having threads which form openings laterallytherebetween is arranged to receive the folded newspapers, with theassembled inserts, between opposed pairs of such threads. The feed-offmechanism includes means for rotating the screw thread elements toadvance the newspapers into a collection stack. Means are provided formoving a predetermined number of such newspapers away from the device.

In a preferred embodiment, the means for separating the leaves or foldsof the folded sheets of newspapers for receiving inserts includes arotatable drum which carries a plurality of circumferentially spacedcombination stop and gripping elements against respective ones of whicheach newspaper is fed. The drum includes cooperative elements arrangedadjacent each stop including a pivotal gripper member which is adaptedto lift a folded leaf of the newspaper upwardly from the drum and toopen the leaves directly below means for delivering an insert downwardlytherein. The combination gripping and stopping elements are theneffective to close the leaves over the inserts and to deposit the sheetswith the inserts therein onto a delivery mechanism. The deliverymechanism, in turn, is operated to arrange the sheets in stacks of aselected number.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improveddevice for inserting supplements into folded sheet elements, such asnewspapers.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method of insertingsupplements into newspapers comprising separating newspapers which arefed olf a rotary press into individual sheets, transporting theindividual sheets through a feedpath at which the sheets are openedwhile delivering an insert downwardly between the sheets and thereafterclosing the sheets and thereafter feeding the closed sheets into astack.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved sheetmaterial feeding device including a pair of laterally spaced screwthread elements having screw threads which are aligned to defineopenings therebetween for receiving sheet materials between theopenings, with means for rotating the threads for progressing the sheetsin an axial direction.

A further object of the invention is to provide means including a screwthread for delivering newspapers along a prescribed feed path andfurther including combining means movable behind sheets which areadvanced after a selected number of sheets is accumulated to separatethe selected sheets.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device for use with acontinuously operating machine such as a rotary press for engaging andseparating an end sheet of a plurality of overlapped sheets of foldedelements, such as newspapers, and delivering the engaged sheets througha feed path at which the sheets are separated by suction gripperelements and held open by an insertable tongue element with means forfeeding supplements from a fixed stack of supplements directly betweenthe open sheets, and for thereafter closing the sheets and deliveringthem off in another feed path.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved device forinserting supplements into newspapers and the like which is simple indesign, rugged in construction and economical to manufacture.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention arepointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming apart of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention,its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use,reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptivematter in which there are illustrated and described preferredembodiments of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a somewhat schematic side elevational view of a machine forinserting supplements into folded articles such as newspapersconstructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial view of a machine similar to FIG. 1 but indicating adifferent delivery mechanism;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top plan View;

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view;

FIG. 5 is a partial transverse sectional view through the carrying drumof FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 indicating the apparatus in anadvanced operational condition; and

FIG. 7 is a partial top plan view of the delivery mechanism.

Referring to the drawings in particular, the invention embodied therein,as indicated particularly in FIGS. 1 and 3 to 7, includes a supplementinserting mechanism generally designated A for use in association with adischarge feed or conveyor 1 of a rotary printing press generallydesignated B. Newspapers 2 in their usual folded condition are deliveredfrom the rotary press B off the conveyor 1 between pairs of pressingrollers 3 and are carried on a belt 6 which is trained to run over thelowermost roller 3 and guide rollers 5, 5. The belt 6 is directedbetween the nip of acceleration or pick-off rollers 4, 4 which operateon the foremost sheet 2 to move it rapidly out of association with theremaining sheets in the series. The separated sheet 2' is thereafterdirected, on the belt 6, under a roller 7 and the forward folded edge 2ais delivered upwardly against a combination stop and gripper member 8carried on a large rotary drum 9.

In accordance with the invention, the rotary drum 9 is provided with aplurality of circumferentially spaced stop and gripper members 8, eachof which includes a stop portion 8' which projects radially outwardlyfrom the surface of the drum 9, and an angle or gripper portion 10 whichis adapted to overlie the forward margin of the folded sheets 2 adjacentthe folded edge 2a. Means (not shown) are provided to rotate a shaftmember 50 carrying the angled member or gripper 10 to cause the forwardend thereof to move downwardly against the edge of the folded sheet 2and to hold it onto the surface of the drum 9 for transportation thereonas the drum is rotated.

Associated with each combination stop and gripper member 8 are levermembers 14 carrying grippers or suction elements 13 at their outer endswhich are adapted to engage the tops of the folded sheets 2 adjacent theopen ends 2b thereof. The grippers 13 advantageously include a pluralityof openings therein which communicate through ports 13a defined withinthe suction member and the lever member 14 which communicate through asource of vacuum (not shown). The lever members 14 are rotatable onindividual shaft elements 16 which are journalled in an end or recess ofthe drum 9 and are urged downwardly in a direction toward the center ofthe drum 9 by means of a torsion spring which is positioned around anintermediate portion of the lever 14. An abutment or stop (not shown) isprovided to prevent the movement of the lever 14 downwardly beyond acertain position. Means (not shown) are connected to each of the leversto cause the oscillation or pivotal movement of the levers through thecompletecycle indicated in FIG. 1 during the rotation of the drum 9.

The folded sheets 2 are opened by the engagement of the grippers 13 withthe foremost edge of the folded sheets to cause the sheets to separateor open at the location 2b. When this is done, a holding or insertionelement 17 is moved laterally into the opening defined between theraised sheet or leaf and the remaining portion of the sheet 2. Theinsertion member 17 includes a hub portion 17a which is rotatable on ashaft or axle which is journalled in the drum 9. The insertion member 17is actuated by a cam '52 operating on a follower 19 to shift theinsertion member 17 axially along the shaft 18 and to cause an outer end17b thereof to be positioned between the opened sheets 2. The shaft 18is rotated cyclically in response to movement of a follower 20 on a cam54, in order to bring the insertion member 17 against the uppermostsheet to hold the sheets in a fully opened position at a location toreceive an insert or a supplement.

Separate stacks of inserts or supplements 21 and 22 are arranged aboverespective conveyors generally designated 56 and 58 which may, forexample, include an endless belt conveyor 5811 having an endless belttrainedv to run in close proximity to an endless belt roller 58b.Supplements 21' and 22' are dropped onto a moving conveyor 23 preferablyin a manner that they become superposed in a vertical stack and theresultant stack is fed between an endless belt conveyor 23 and anendless belt conveyor 24 in a direction downwardly into the open mouthformed by the separated sheets 22 at the end 2b. Thereupon, the gripperseffect closing of the open copy 25 with the supplements therein and thecomplete assembly is moved downwardly to cause the lowermost folded edge2a to be directed between aligned threads 26 of a pair of laterallyspaced screw conveyors 26a and 26b of a delivery mechanism generallydesignated 11. The delivery mechanism 11 also advantageously includes atable or support 28 which extends obliquely upwardly at the same angleas the axis of the shafts 26a and 26b and forms a support for thelowermost edge 2a of the folded newspapers 2. Means, such as a motor 60,is arranged to rotate the shafts 26a and 26b in timed relationship tothe drum 9 to advance the sheets with the inserts 25 upwardly along thesupport 28. Means such as an eccentric driving mechanism 62 is providedfor vibrating the support 28 to facilitate the feeding of the materialsand the proper alignment of the inserts within the folded sheets 2. Whenthe screw threads 26 are rotated, the completely assembled newspaper 27is advanced upwardly along the support 28 and they accumulate in stacks29 at the forward ends of the conveyor. The delivery mechanism 11advantageously includes means for sectioning off the assemblednewspapers 27 into stacks 29 of a selected number which includes adivider mechanism comprising an endless chain conveyor 31 trained to runaround guide rollers 64, 64 (only two of which are indicated). Thedivider mechanism includes means defining spaced oblique slots 32 and 33in which end pieces 66, 66 of a divider member 30 are respectivelyconfined. The divider member 30 includes an upright portion 68 which isperpendicular to a base portion 70 which carries the end pieces 66, 66.When the endless chain 31 is moved, the divider member 30 moves behindan accumulated stack of newspapers and it pushes them upwardly along theinclined support 28. Slots 33 and 32 merge into a common oblique slot 72which extends parallel to the surface of the support 28. The chainconveyor 31 is timed so that the dividers will i be moved behind thenewspapers after a given number has accumulated in front of the deliverymechanism 11 so that the newspapers will be grouped in bundles ofuniform numbers of newspapers.

In place of the delivery mechanism 11 it is sometimes preferable to usea well known delivery mechanism generally designated 12 in associationwith a drum 9' which is identical with the drum 9 of the embodiment ofFIG. 1. When the delivery mechanism 12 is employed, the newspapers aredeposited as complete assemblies 27 onto a conveyor 74 with therespective newspapers being arranged in an overlapped manner.

It should be appreciated that in some instances the drum 9 may bereplaced by a conveyor such as a chain conveyor having the associatedstop and suction gripper members. The mechanism in such instance wouldoperate in the same manner.

With'the inventive device and mechanism it is only necessary to manuallytransfer the supplements by hand. In order that the rotary press befully utilized, it is sometimes advantageous to provide folding machineswith double delivery. In such instance two folding devices, each withhalf the capacity of the rotary press, are employed. In addition, threeor more fold deliveries are conceivable with correspondingmultiplication of the insertion devices. The same machine may be usedfor delivering newspapers without supplements, in which event theoperating mechanism for the suction elements or grippers and insertionmembers are discontinued.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed in detail to illustrate the application of the inventiveprinciples, it will be understood that the invention may be embodiedother-wise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of adding inserts, supplements and the like to foldedsheets, such as newspapers, having a folded edge and an opposite openedge from a series of overlapped sheets of newspapers, using an endlessconveyor having a plurality of circumferentially spaced stops andgrippers comprising separating each folded sheet in succession from theseries and feeding the folded end of each sheet in succession against arespective stop, gripping the folded edge of each folded sheet andmoving it through a first feed path in a substantially vertical plane,opening the folded sheet by gripping one of the outer ends remote fromthe folded edge and by moving it away from the feed path as the foldedsheet is being fed by the conveyor through a substantially verticalorbit, advancing an insert through a second feed path to intercept thefirst feed path from a location above the opened folded sheet as thesheet is being moved downwardly, dropping an insert into the openedfolded sheet, and closing the folded sheet over the insert.

2. An apparatus for adding inserts, supplements and the like to foldedsheets such as folded sheets of newspapers having a folded edge and anopposite open edge, comprising a first endless conveyor for moving saidfolded sheets through a first feed path extending through a verticalplane, a plurality of spaced sheet supporting and gripping elements onsaid first endless conveyor each including front edge aligning means forpositioning a folded front edge of a folded sheet, means for feeding aseries of sheets so that the folded edge of each sheet is deliveredagainst the front aligning means, means on said first endless conveyorfor gripping one of the unfolded edges of said sheets and for moving theedge outwardly away from said conveyor to open said sheets as saidsheets are being moved by said conveyor, a second conveyor for movinginserts through a second path to intercept said first feed path at alocation above said first feed path for depositing inserts into theopenings formed by said folded sheets, said means on said first endlessconveyor for gripping said sheets to open said sheets being effective toclose said sheets after the inserts are positioned therein, and adelivery conveyor disposed adjacent said first conveyor in a position toreceive each folded sheet with an insert from said first conveyor, saidgripping elements on said first endless conveyor being elfective torelease said folded sheet with the insert therein onto said deliveryconveyor.

3. An apparatus for adding inserts, supplements and the like to foldedsheets such as folded sheets of newspapers having a folded edge and anopposite open edge, comprising a first endless conveyor for moving saidfolded sheets through a first feed path extending through a verticalplane, a plurality of spaced sheet supporting and gripping elements onsaid first endless conveyor each including front edge aligning means forpositioning a folded front edge of a folded sheet, means for feeding aseries of sheets so that the folded edge of each sheet is deliveredagainst the front aligning means, means on said first endless conveyorfor gripping one of the unfolded edges of said sheets and for moving theedge outwardly away from said conveyor to open said sheets as saidsheets are being moved by said conveyor, a second conveyor for movinginserts through a second path to intercept said first feed path at alocation above said first feed path for depositing inserts into theopenings formed by said folded sheets, said means on said first endlessconveyor being effective to close said sheets after the inserts arepositioned therein, and a delivery conveyor disposed adjacent said firstconveyor in a position to receive each folded sheetwith an insert fromsaid first conveyor, said gripping elements on said first endlessconveyor being effective to release said folded sheets with the insertstherein onto said delivery conveyor, said delivery conveyor comprisingfirst and second rotary screw thread conveyors with their axes disposedin spaced parallel relationship and having screw threads aligned anddefining openings therebetween for receiving each folded sheet with aninsert therein from said first conveyor.

4. An apparatus for adding inserts, supplements and the like to foldedsheets such as folded sheets of news papers having a folded edge and anopposite open edge, comprising a first endless conveyor for moving saidfolded sheets through a first feed path extending through a verticalplane, a plurality of spaced sheet supporting and gripping elements onsaid first endless conveyor each including front edge aligning means forpositioning a folded front edge of a folded sheet, means for feeding aseries of sheets so that the folded edge of each sheet is deliveredagainst the front aligning means, means on said first endless conveyorfor gripping one of the unfolded edges of said sheets and for moving theedge outwardly away from said conveyor to open said sheets as saidsheets are being moved by said conveyor, a second conveyor for :movinginserts through a second path to intercept said first feed path at alocation above said first feed path for depositing inserts into theopenings formed by said folded sheets, said means on said endlessconveyor being effective to close said sheets after the inserts arepositioned therein, and a delivery conveyor disposed adjacent said firstconveyor in a position to receive each folded sheet with an insert fromsaid first conveyor, said gripping element on said first endlessconveyor being effective to release said folded sheets with the insertstherein onto said delivery conveyor, said delivery conveyor comprisingfirst and second rotary screw thread conveyors with their axes disposedin spaced parallel realtionship and having screw threads aligned anddefining openings therebetween for receiving each folded sheet with aninsert therein from said first conveyor, an oblique supporting wallbelow said screw thread conveyors for supporting the lowermost foldededge of said folded sheets with the inserts therein, means for vibratingsaid supporting wall as said screw conveyors are moved, and means forrotating said screw conveyors to advance said sheets along said obliquewall.

5. An apparatus for adding inserts, supplements and the like to foldedsheets such as folded sheets of newspapers having a folded edge and anopposite open edge, comprising a first endless conveyor for moving saidfolded sheets through a first substantially vertical plane feed path, aplurality of spaced sheet supporting and gripping elements on said firstendless conveyor each including front edge aligning means forpositioning a folded front edge of a folded sheet, means for feeding aseries of sheets so that the folded edge of each sheet is deliveredagainst the front aligning means, means on said first end less conveyorfor gripping one of the unfolded edges of said sheets and for movingsaid sheets outwardly away from said first endless conveyor to open saidsheets as said sheets are 'being moved by said first endless conveyor, asecond conveyor for moving inserts through a second path to interceptsaid first feed path at a location above said first feed path fordepositing inserts into the openings formed by said folded sheets, saidmeans on said conveyors being effective to close said sheets after theinserts are positioned therein, and a delivery conveyor disposedadjacent said first conveyor in a position to receive each folded sheetwith an insert from said first conveyor, said gripping element on saidfirst conveyor being effective to release said folded sheets with theinserts therein onto said delivery conveyor, said delivery conveyorincluding first and second rotary screw thread conveyors with their axesdisposed in spaced parallel relationship and having screw threadsaligned and defining openings therebetween for receiving each foldedsheet with an insert therein from said first conveyor, and a sectioningmechanism associated with said delivering mechanism including a membermovable behind accumulated stacks of folded sheets with inserts thereinwhich are fed by said delivery conveyor at predetermined intervals inorder to collect a predetermined number of such sheets and move themoff.

6. An apparatus for adding inserts, supplements and the like to foldedsheets such as folded sheets of newspapers having a folded edge and anopposite open edge, comprising a first conveyor for moving said foldedsheets through a first feed path extending through a vertical plane, aplurality of spaced sheet supporting and gripping elements on said firstendless conveyor each including front edge aligning means forpositioning a folded front edge of a folded sheet, means for feeding aseries of sheets so that the folded edge of each sheet is deliveredagainst the front aligning means, means on said first endless conveyorfor gripping one of the unfolded edges of said sheets and for moving theedge outwardly away from said conveyor to open said sheets as saidsheets are being moved by said conveyor, a second conveyor for movinginserts through a second path to intercept said first feed path at alocation above said first feed path for depositing inserts into theopenings formed by said folded sheets, said means on said conveyors forgripping elements to open said sheets being movable to close said sheetsafter the inserts are positioned therein, and an insertion memberassociated with each of said gripping elements and being movable betweenthe opened sheets which are opened by said gripping elements to holdsaid sheets in an opened position while the inserts are depositedtherebetween.

7. An apparatus for adding inserts, supplements and the like to foldedsheets such as newspapers having a folded edge and an open edge from aseries of fed overlapped sheets thereof, comprising means engagea'blewith each sheet in succession for feeding said sheets outwardly awayfrom the series of overlapped sheets, a rotary drum, a plurality ofcombination stop and gripper members carried by said drum at spacedlocations around the periphery thereof, said drum being rotated adjacentsaid means for feeding the sheets from the overlapped sheets thereof,whereby each sheet in succession is fed against a respective stoppinggripper member of said drum, said combination stop and gripper memberbeing effective to engage the forward folded edge of said sheets,gripper means carried by said drum adjacent each of said combinationstop and gripper members including a lever having suction means thereonengageable with the outer surface of each of said folded sheets to movesaid sheets away from said drum to open the folded edge of said sheets,an insertion member carried by said drum adjacent each of said grippermembers and adapted to be movable between the open sheets when they areopened by said gripper members, a conveyor located above said drum forconveying insert material downwardly toward said drum adjacent one sidethereof, said folded sheets being movable around during rotation of saiddrum to position a fully opened sheet below the inserts in a position toreceive said inserts from said conveyor as said drum is rotated, adelivery mechanism disposed adjacent said drum below the side thereofwhere said folded sheet receives the insert, said delivery mechanismincluding an inclined supporting wall, a pair of screw threaded membersrotatably mounted above said supporting wall and having screw threadswith aligned openings between which the folded sheets with the insertstherein are adapted to be received, said gripper means on said drumbeing adapted to close said folded sheets and said combination gripperand stop means being adapted to release the sheets onto said deliverymechanism within the screw threads, said screw threads being rotatableto advance said sheets along said oblique supporting walls.

8. An apparatus for adding inserts, supplements and the like to foldedsheets such as newspapers having a folded edge and an open edge from aseries of fed overlapped sheets thereof, comprising means engageablewith each sheet in succession for feeding said sheets outwardly awayfrom the series of overlapped sheets, a rotary drum,

a plurality of combination stop and gripper members carried by said drumat spaced locations around the periphery thereof, said drum beingrotated adjacent said means for feeding the sheets from the overlappedsheets thereof, whereby each sheet in succession is fed against arespective stopping gripper member of said drum, said gripper memberbeing effective to engage the forward folded edge of said sheets,gripper means carried by said drum adjacent each of said combinationstop and gripper members including a lever having means thereonengageable with the outer surface of each of said folded sheets to movesaid sheets away from said drum to open the folded edge of said sheets,an insertion member carried by said drum adjacent each of said grippermembers and adapted to be movable between the open sheets when they areopen, a conveyor located above said drum for conveying insert materialdownwardly toward said drum adjacent one side thereof, said foldedsheets being movable around during rotation of said drum to position afully opened sheet below the inserts in a position to receive saidinserts as said drum is rotated, a delivery mechanism disposed adjacentsaid drum below each side thereof where said folded sheet receives theinsert, said delivery mechanism including an inclined supporting wall, apair of screw thread members rotatably mounted above said supportingwall and having screw threads with aligned openings between which thefolded sheets with the inserts therein are adapted to be received, saidgripper means on said drum being adapted to close said folded sheets andsaid combination gripper and stop means being adapted to release thesheets onto said delivery mechanism within the screw threads, said screwthreads being rotatable to advance said sheets along said obliquesupporting walls, and a sectioning mechanism including an endless chainconveyor having an upper reach running substantially parallel to saidoblique supporting wall, a sectioning member carried by said endlesschain including a substantially fiat base portion having ends withfollower elements thereon and a central sectioning member extendingsubstantially perpendicular to said base portion, the ends of saidfollower member substantially perpendicular to said oblique supportingWall and behind each accumulated number of folded sheets for moving thepredetermined number along said oblique wall.

9. An apparatus for adding inserts, supplements and the like to foldingsheets such as newspapers having a folded edge and an open edge,comprising an endless conveyor carrying a plurality of spaced sheetsupporting and gripping elements, said elements being carried in anorbit which is substantially vertically arranged, said gripping elementseach comprising front edge aligning means for positioning a folded frontedge of a folded sheet, means for feeding a folded edge of a series ofsheets in succession against the respective aligning means, said gripperelements further including a pivotal means for clamping said sheets onsaid endless conveyor, each of said supporting elements comprisingopenable means for separating the unclamped ends of said sheets andmaintaining them in open condition, means cooperating with said elementswhen the clamped edge of the sheets are being moved downwardly to feedan insert into each open sheet, and means for depositing said sheetsafter the insert has been positioned therein.

10. An apparatus for adding inserts, supplements and the like to foldingsheets such as newspapers having a folded edge and an open edge,comprising an endless conveyor carrying a plurality of spaced sheetsupporting and gripping elements, said elements being carried in anorbit which is substantially vertically arranged, said gripping elementseach comprising front edge aligning means for positioning a folded frontedge of a folded sheet, means for feeding a folded edge of a series ofsheets in succession against the respective aligning means, said gripperelements further including a pivotal means for clamping said sheets onsaid endless conveyor, each of said supporting elements comprisingopenable means for separating the unclamped ends of said sheets andmaintaining them in open condition, means cooperating with said elementswhen the clamped edge of the sheets are being moved downwardly to feedan insert into each open sheet, and means for depositing said sheetsafter 10 the insert has been positioned therein a device for feeding aseries of overlapped sheets, and means associated with said device forseparating each sheet in succession from the series of overlapped sheetsand delivering it to said first endless conveyor.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 729,580 6/ 1903Hartmann 198-104 849,122 4/ 1907 George 198-104 2,568,604 9/1951Bechberger 27054 3,122,362 2/ 1964 Vollrath et a1 27057 3,162,43412/1964 Hepp 27057 FOREIGN PATENTS 262,887 7/ 1913 Germany.

EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner.

N. M. ELLISON, Assistant Examiner.

1. A METHOD OF ADDING INSERTS, SUPPLEMENTS AND THE LIKE TO FOLDED SHEETS, SUCH AS NEWSPAPERS, HAVING A FOLDED EDGE AND AN OPPOSITE OPEN EDGE FROM A SERIES OF OVERLAPPED SHEETS OF NEWSPAPERS, USING AN ENDLESS CONVEYOR HAVING A PLURALITY OF CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED STOPS AND GRIPPERS COMPRISING SEPARATING EACH FOLDED SHEET IN SUCCESSION FROM THE SERIES AND FEEDING THE FOLDED END OF EACH SHEET IN SUCCESSION AGAINST A RESPECTIVE STOP, GRIPPING THE FOLDED EDGE OF EACH FOLDED SHEET AND MOVING IT THROUGH A FIRST FEED PATH IN A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL PLANE, OPENING THE FOLDED SHEET BY GRIPPING ONE OF THE OUTER END REMOTE FORM THE FOLDED EDGE AND BY MOVING IT AWAY FROM THE FEED PATH AS THE FOLDED SHEET IS BEING FED BY THE CONVEYOR THROUGH A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL ORBIT, ADVANCING AN INSERT THROUGH A SSECOND FEED PATH TO INTERCEPT THE FIRST FEED PATH FROM A LOCATION ABOVE THE OPENED FOLDED SHEET AS THE SHEET IS BEING MOVED DOWNWARDLY, DROPPING AN INSERT INTO THE OPENED FOLDED SHEET, AND CLOSING THE FOLDED SHEET OVER THE INSERT.
 9. AN APPARATUS FOR ADDING INSERTS, SUPPLEMENTS AND THE LIKE TO FOLDING SHEETS SUCH AS NEWSPAPERS HAVING A FOLDED EDGE AND AN OPEN EDGE, COMPRISING AN ENDLESS CONVEYOR CARRYING A PLURALITY OF SPACED SHEET SUPPORTING AND GRIPPING ELEMENTS, SAID ELEMENTS BEING CARRIED IN AN ORBIT WHICH IS SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICALLY ARRANGED, SAID GRIPPING ELEMENTS EACH COMPRISING FRONT EDGE ALIGNING MEANS FOR POSITIONING A FOLDED FRONT EDGE ALIGNING SHEET, MEANS FOR FEEDING A FOLDED EDGE OF A SERIES OF SHEETS IN SUCCESSION AGAINST THE RESPECTIVE ALIGNING MEANS, SAID GRIPPER ELEMENTS FURTHER INCLUDING A PIVOTAL MEANS FOR CLAMPING SAID SHEETS ON SAID ENDLESS CONVEYOR, EACH OF SAID SUPPORTING ELEMENTS COMPRISING OPENABLE MEANS FOR SEPARATING THE UNCLAMPED ENDS OF SAID SHEETS AND MAINTAINING THEM IN OPEN CONDITION, MEANS COOPERATING WITH SAID ELEMENTS WHEN THE CLAMPED EDGE OF THE SHEETS ARE BEING MOVED DOWNWARDLY TO FEED AN INSERT INTO EACH OPEN SHEET, AND MEANS FOR DEPOSITING SAID SHEETS AFTER THE INSERT HAS BEEN POSITIONED THEREIN. 